Ignition timer for internal-combustion engines



May 26, 1925. 1,539,514

J.SACHS IGNITION TIMER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Jan. 25. 1922 both land and marine types.

Patented May 2 6, 1925.

UNITED STATES JOSEPH SACHS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

IGNITION TIMER FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed January 25, 1922. Serial No. 531,579.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH Sac-25s, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ignition Timers for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

. This invention relates to timers for internal combustion engines of the class in which the electric ignition circuits are closed by the wiping engagements of a rotatory conducting member with, relatively stationary conducting members.

The object of the invention is to provide a timer of this character having parts which are simple to manufacture and easy to assemble, and which are shaped and sup ported in such a manner that positive and effective engagements will be made between the revolvable and stationary circuit-closing conductors without regard to their exact alignment or to wear, which engagements are made in a way that ensures clean and bright contacting surfaces without excessive friction and wear, thereby insuring certainty and uniformity of ignition and long life or the timer.

The invention is applicable to internal combustion engines having one or more cylinders of the two or four cycle class of For the purpose of explanation the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a structure designed for a four cylinder four cycle engine of well known make, although the invention is not limited to the particular size and arrangement set forth as it is readilyadaptable by those skilled in the art to engines of other design.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a view looking into the timer from the back. Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of the rotatory and stationary conductors with the casing in section. Fig. 3 shows a diametrical section of the rotor member. Fig. 4 is a section of the rotor on the plane indicated by the dotted line H on Fig. 3. Fig. 5 shows a face view of a modified arrangement of conductors in engagement. Fig. 6 shows an edge view of the modification.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated the casing 1 is made of metal although it may be made of any other suitable material. This casing is circular and is shaped to fit in the common manner over the end of the cam shaft, crank shaft or other directly or indirectly driven shaft 2 of the engine. The casing is adapted to be held in place by the means usually employed for timers of this character. On one side the casing has an eye 3 into which the end ofan ordinary control rod may be inserted for turning the casing back and forth several degrees as may be required to chcnge the relation of the time of engagement of the rotatable and stationary conductors, to the positions of the engine pistons. In the form first shown there. are four equally spaced conducting blades at projecting into the casing from the sidewall. These blades which are preferably rigid but may be yielding if desired, have threaded stems 5 that extend through openings in the casing wall. On thethreaded stems outside of the cats ing are nuts 6 for securing the blades in place. The blades, their stems and the nuts are electrically insulated from the casing on the inside by strips 7 of non-conducting materialand on the outside by washers 8 of non-conducting material. The terminals of the circuit may be fastened to the blade stems by any suitable means. i

The rotor of this form comprises a metallic sleeve 9 that is adapted to be fitted upon the end of the shaft and be fastened thereto in any convenient way so as to rotate therewith. Attached to the sleeve are two plates 10 made of spring metal. In ordcr to insure sufficient yielding of the plates they are desirably secured by a rivet 11 to an extension 12 from the side of the sleeve opposite to the side on which the free ends of the plates eatend, the openings 13 through the plates being slightly larger in diameter than the exterior diameter of the sleeve. Pivotally mounted on a stud 14 fastened to the free end of each plate is a metal disk 15. Under normal conditions the spring of the plates keeps the faces of the disks in yielding contact.

As the rotor revolves with the shaft, which is electrically grounded, the disks successively engage with the opposite faces of the blades, wiping across them and making close electrical connection between the grounded disks and the blades which are connected with the electrical source. The tension of the plates causes the disks to press tightly against the opposite faces of the blades and make sure electrical contact, and also sweep dust, and products of corrosion or burning from both sides or the blades, and yet as the plates yield and the disks wipe across the blades with a rolling motion. the resistance ofiered to the rotor and the frictional Wear of the parts of this construction are reduced to a minimum.

Furthermore owing to the resilience of the plates and yielding of the disks good electrical contacts Will be made even it the blades are slightly out of alignment or if they become worn. As the disks rotate as well as revolve While Wiping across the blades the tendenc of burning arcs to form when the contacts are broken and thee-ircuits are opened is reduced to a minimum.

in the form above described thedislzs are mounted on yielding arms fastened. to the rotor and the blades are hastened to the casing. This condition can he reversed without departing from the invention, as shown in Figs. 5 and G. In the modification a blade 16 is fastened to the sleeve 17 that fitted on the engine shaft and the disks 18 are pivotally mounted on the free ends of spring arms 19 that are secured at intervals to the side wall of the casing by suitably insulated bolts 20 and nuts 21.

The resulting action of the engagement of the rotor blade conductor and stationary disk ionductors in this case is substantially.

the same as previously set forth. The blade passes between and separates the disks which are normally pressed together, in such manner that. while there is a rolling contact all the surfaces are wiped clean and kept bright, thus insuring an ellicient electrical connection Without excessive friction and with an elimination of the liability of the forming of burning arcs as the rotor con ductor leaves the stationary conductors and the circuits open.

Two embodiments of the invention are illustrated and desz -riloed. The invention, however. is not limited to these two specific designs but may be embodied in other forms in which one of the conductors is a spring clip with rotatable engaging surfaces, and the other conductor is adapted to pass between said rotatable engaging surfaces.

The invention claimed is 1-- in ignition timer comprising a casing. blades extending inwardly from the periplr oral wall of the casing, said blades being insulated from the casing and having stems extending to the exterior of the casing. a sleeve adapted to be fitted upon an engine shaft, said sleeve having a projection from one side, yielding plates attached to the sides of said projection and embracing the sleere and projecting substantially parallel outwardly from the sleeve on the side opposite to said projection, and a disk rotatably mounted on the inside of the free end of each yielding plate diametrically opposite to the point of attachment of the plate to the projection from the sleeve, said disks being pressed together axiallv and adapted to, when the sleeve is rotated in the case, wipe across both faces of said blades. 7

JOSEPH SACHS. 

